晦

Rooted in the darkness of the new moon, denoting occlusion or invisibility rather than a general lack of light.

• Temporal: The final day of the lunar month.
• Qualitative: Hidden, secret, or occluded from view. When applied to speech, thought, or judgment, it denotes vagueness, cloudiness, or ignorance.

Primarily functions as a noun (calendrical) or an adjective (descriptive). It may occasionally function as a verb meaning "to darken" or "to obscure."

To avoid over-translation as "dark," distinguish 晦 from the following:

• 昏 (hūn): The specific darkness of dusk or twilight.
• 暗 (àn): General dimness, shade, or physical lack of light.
• 黑 (hēi): The color black or a total absence of light.
• 晦 (huì): Occlusion; implies a light that is normally present but currently blocked or absent.